Single-Family Zoning Issue Divides Ann Arbor City Council

The Ann Arbor City Council is embroiled in a debate that has turned ugly. The city is poised to end single-family zoning, say several council members. Others disagree. The council voted to make it easier for more than 20,000 homeowners to put up a secondary home. These structures are sometimes known as carriage houses or granny flats. Removing additional single-family zoning restrictions could potentially increase affordable housing and reduce segregation and urban sprawl. However, the council disagrees on how to accomplish this goal, as well as how aggressively to pursue it.